Some Gatorade, some beans and you're 'on the air'

A radio antenna made of electrified gas could lead to stealthy, jamming-resistant transmitters, research now reveals.

Electrified gas, or plasma, makes up stars and lightning and is what sheds light in fluorescent bulbs. Sealed glass, ceramic or even flexible plastic tubes of plasma can behave just like conventional metal antennas.

These antennas only work when energized, effectively vanishing when turned off, with the plasma reverting back to normal gas. This is key for stealth on the battlefield—metal antennas can scatter incoming radar signals, giving away their presence.

In addition, to counteract jamming attempts, plasma antennas can rapidly adjust which frequencies they broadcast and pick up by changing how much energy the plasma is given. (more)

Japanese say, "Bugs Bite"

Japan - Major firms have started offering services to detect and remove electronic bugging devices in offices as spying has become a serious concern due to increased competition in business and among employees.

With information on new technology or personnel more sought after than ever, observers point out that many Japanese firms have not taken sufficient measures to protect against eavesdropping. The need for bug-busting services is expected to grow...

According to the NPO, about 370,000 bugs and spy cameras were sold in 2006, more than double the number in 1997...

Raisuke Miyawaki, former cabinet public relations secretary and an adviser to the Institute for International Policy Studies, warns that firms should not delay in taking defensive measures against bugging. (more) (Japanese butt-biting bug video sfw)

FED-up Telcos Zap Taps

Telephone companies have cut off FBI wiretaps used to eavesdrop on suspected criminals because of the bureau's repeated failures to pay phone bills on time.

A Justice Department audit released Thursday blamed the lost connections on the FBI's lax oversight of money used in undercover investigations. Poor supervision of the program also allowed one agent to steal $25,000, the audit said.

In at least one case, a wiretap used in a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act investigation "was halted due to untimely payment," the audit found. FISA wiretaps are used in the government's most sensitive and secretive criminal investigations, and allow eavesdropping on suspected terrorists or spies. (more)

More discussion about sweeping hotel rooms...

The recent sex DVD scandal involving former Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek shows how easy it is to rig a spy camera and film someone without their knowledge.

Experts tell The New Paper on Sunday that it takes anyone just 30 minutes to rig a spy cam. It takes the professionally trained even less time. [much less]

This has the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) concerned. It will discuss the possibility of getting its more than 400 members to sweep all their hotel rooms for hidden cameras or other spying devices. (more)

"How to spy on any conversation using a phone."

Cheesy instructional video. (more)
Why do I mention it?
So you will know what you are up against.

SpyCam Story #421 - "A Worldwide Scourge"

...is the headline of an article in The Malay Mail - listing 6 SpyCam news stories.

• A New Zealander admitted to nine charges related to using a miniature video camera to film...
• A man in Singapore spied on his tenants, who were two sisters, while they were...
• Actress and model Nasha Aziz told a magistrate's court that she spotted a spy cam...
• A woman in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, found a strange object hanging from her bed room ceiling...
• A female reporter, who claimed that a CCTV camera operator had focused on her thighs...
• Footage seized from a voyeur, who installed spy cams in the bathrooms used by...
(more)

Knock, Knock "TSCM Maid"

From a news observer in India...
"There is also a talk that all the 155,000 hotel rooms offered for business in 2400 hotels should be scanned and certified free from any ‘bugging’ apparatus, to give comfort for the local and foreign tourism industry customers." (more)

Spycam Story #420 - Bacchus was not pleased

MD - William A. Hendry IV, 38, of 206 Mayo Road in Edgewater, pleaded not guilty Monday in county Circuit Court in Annapolis to charges that he videotaped himself and his ex-wife having sex without her knowledge.

He was charged Oct. 18 with two counts of illegal wiretapping, one count of conducting video surveillance with "prurient intent," and one count of secretly placing a camera inside a home.

If convicted on all charges, he faces up to 12 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

Mr. Hendry's ex-wife, Christa Bacchus, learned of the video - which is now in police custody - after Mr. Hendry showed it to her new husband, Philip Bacchus. (more)

AP striving for Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" Award

Belichick AP Coach of the Year despite spying fine
Patriots coach honored for second time (?!?!)

New England's undefeated season now includes yet another achievement: Bill Belichick is The Associated Press 2007 NFL Coach of the Year. ...

That was enough to offset the major blemish on Belichick's resume: a $500,000 personal fine, $250,000 fine for the team and the loss of a first-round pick in the upcoming draft after the Patriots were caught videotaping New York Jets coaches during the season opener. (more) (more)

Quote of the Day

"Even to this day I don't chatter near a telephone that is hung up, because even when the telephone is hung up it is possible to eavesdrop on you." ~ Helena Yaralova, actress. (more)

SpyCam Story #419 - 3rd teen pleads guilty

IL - A Cary teen accused with two friends of secretly videotaping a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old high school classmate pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Thursday, allowing him to avoid a possible felony conviction and prison sentence.

Nicholas B. Parfitt, 18, admitted guilt to misdemeanor attempted eavesdropping stemming from the Jan. 6, 2007, incident in which, police said, he helped set up a hidden video camera to record sexual relations between a friend and an unsuspecting girl. (more)

Microsoft Seeks To Patent System To Spy On Workers

The application describes a program that would watch users' computer activity, automatically offering help and letting supervisors monitor users.

The patent application, published Dec. 27, describes a program that would monitor users' computer activity, automatically offer help solving problems or links to information resources, and even allow supervisory monitoring of users to make sure they're working or so others can give employees' guidance if they're stuck on a certain task.

The application centers on "activity-centric monitoring," which could be anything from "designing a new ad campaign" to "resizing an image." Either way, the program as described would be capable of monitoring related activity and providing advice or gentle nudging to carry out the task properly.

The program would even be able to determine performance levels across a group of employees and identify lower performers who might then be given additional training, be reassigned to other tasks, or, potentially, even be fired because they can't keep up with the work. (more)

Private eye in spying row held on fraud and forgery charge

South Africa - Private investigator Niel van Heerden, who now owns the Mossel Bay franchise of George Fivaz and Associates, was arrested earlier this week on charges of fraud and forgery.

Van Heerden, 55, was arrested at his Mossel Bay home on Monday for allegedly making a false statement under oath. Police also seized three computers from his home.

Van Heerden recently made headlines when his firm was involved in the political spying accusations leveled against the DA in Cape Town. (more)

The Zen of Homeland Security

The Kids Spy Back

(from the seller's web site...)
Ideal snooper robot comes fully assembled and is fully remote controlled. Capable of entering a room undetected it will listen in on conversations then transmit them to up 150 feet away to the listening receiver. (more)